What is “ white privilege ”?

It’s the idea that in a predominantly white society, run by predominantly white people, those who are white may enjoy some advantages that people of colour often don’t.

A prime example would be something like police-profiling, such as that which sparked the Brixton riots in 1981.

After 943 stop-and-searches carried out in the area on mainly young black men over the previous five days, two youths interpreted white police officers helping an injured young black male as harassment and attacked the vehicle.

The conflict escalated which, in turn, sparked what became the first serious riots of the 20th century in the UK.

By Sunday, April 12, a total of 7000 police officers had been involved in dealing with the disturbances, arresting a total of 282 people.

Almost all of them were persons of colour.

At the time, the then PM Margaret Thatcher believed the police had been victimised by “the mob”.

Yet despite her strong sense that the police were not at fault, it was later found in the report into the Brixton riots by Lord Scarman that the conduct of the police had played a significant factor in the racial tensions that preceded the violence.

More than 10 years later, the murder of Stephen Lawrence in 1993 cast further new light on the “victimised” police force.

Prior to the public inquiry held years after Stephen’s death, the murder and subsequent investigation was widely regarded as containing little to no racial dimension.

Funny that, because the Macpherson report into both Stephen’s murder, and the criminal proceedings that followed, found that race played a significant factor in both.

Macpherson, in fact, concluded that the Metropolitan Police force was institutionally racist.

“White privilege” is the notion that the intuitions of white people on matters of race may betray their ignorance around matters which, because of their skin tone, they are less likely to experience.

Much like an able-bodied person wakes up in the morning and goes about their day without giving much consideration to things like stairs, or whether a building has wheelchair access, white people enjoy some advantages they may not naturally perceive.

Is “white privilege” a scientific fact? No. Is a white wheelchair user more “privileged” than an able-bodied person of colour? No. Is a white homeless man more “privileged” than a black female university professor? No.

Is the theory of “white privilege” often clumsily applied by middle-class university students who seem to have forgotten they are white?

Yes.

But we must not allow that to obscure the bigger picture here. White privilege is simply that the white wheelchair user, and a white homeless man, are not disadvantaged by race.

Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk.

Sussexes’ decision took real courage

Darren McGavery found himself strangely sympathetic to Meghan Markle and Prince Harry

I found myself feeling strangely sympathetic when Prince Harry and wife Meghan Markle, right, announced they would, effectively, be walking out on the British monarchy.

As much as it is highly unlikely that they’ll ever want for anything, and will continue to enjoy lives of immense wealth and privilege, I felt a sneaking admiration at their courage in taking the plunge and stepping into the swamp of semi-civilian life.

Speculation about precisely how they came to this decision is everywhere, ranging from fair to bonkers. The truth is, we’ll probably never know.

One thing that’s easy to forget is the lottery of birth involved in being a member of the Royal Family.

It looks like a rather pathetic existence that requires either extensive brain-washing, or self-delusion, to rationalise and survive.

That can’t be pleasant for people like Harry who seem moderately capable of thinking for themselves. One gets the impression Prince Andrew is not burdened by such crises of conscience.

Then again, every family has an uncle they’d rather had kept their distance at Christmas. I suppose I was just heartened to see that even the most privileged families have their Jeremy Kyle moments.

Peace in back in my world

It’s been a good start to the year in the McGarvey household.

January is a typically tough month. My children have things growing out of their faces (impetigo).

My partner and I long for a whole day in bed doing nothing, but life is good.

It’s easy to get caught up in the endless tasks that constitute family routine and forget to actually enjoy each other’s company.

We recognised that either because of work, or exhaustion, we were passing each other like ships in the night too often.

So, we started doing yoga together at night – something I never thought I’d say.

Aside from the workout, it’s very calming. Give it a try.

Just noticing patterns we slip into is half the battle. If you are lucky, the rest comes naturally.